Lesson Plan- 1ames and the Giant Peach Character Trading Cards

Grade- Third
Time- 30-40 minutes
Date- 11/28/11

Goals/Objectives-
O $tudents will be able to identiIy character traits which describe the character
James in 'James and the Giant Peach
O $tudents will be able to analyze how character traits inIluence a character`s
actions and interactions with the other characters in the book
O $tudents will be able to work collaboratively to complete a Character Card
O $tudents will be able discuss and share their ideas with other students

$tandards-
O PA 1.1.3.D.: Demonstrate comprehension/understanding beIore reading, during
reading, and aIter reading on grade level texts through strategies such as retelling,
summarizing, note taking, connecting to prior knowledge, supporting assertions
about text with evidence Irom text, and non-linguistic representations
O PA 1.3.3.C.: IdentiIy literary elements (characters, setting, and plot) in selected
readings
O PA 1.6.3.A: Listen critically and respond to others in small and large group
situations
o #espond with grade level appropriate questions, ideas, inIormation, or
opinions

Materials and preparation-
O Chart paper Ior idea web
O Markers
O Pencil Ior each child
O Character card worksheet- 11 copies
O Poster oI character card worksheet
O Copies oI 'James and Giant Peach
O Independent reading book
O Completed character traits worksheet

Classroom arrangement and management issues-
O This lesson will take place in room 113 at Penn Alexander using the round table
that is in the room. I have chosen this arrangement because the round table will
hopeIully help to promote discussion because students will be able to look at each
other more easily than iI they were sitting in their traditional desks.
O The students will bring with them their copy oI 'James and Giant Peach along
with a pencil, their character traits worksheet and an independent reading book
O I do not anticipate any management issues because I have worked with this group
over the past month so they are aware oI my expectations Ior them. In addition,
they are a motivated group oI students who enjoy having an extra reading project
outside oI the classroom.


Plan-
O ook (5-10 minutes)
o I will start by asking the students to tell me what they think oI when they
hear the word 'Team
o I will record their responses on a idea web on a piece oI chart paper that
all oI the students can see
o AIter the students have Iinished generating their ideas about what a team
is, I will ask how the idea oI a team relates to 'James and the Giant Peach
II students have trouble relating the concept oI a team to the story I
will provide an example Irom the story oI a time when the
characters were working together as a team to help the students see
the connection. In addition, I have marked sections oI the book that
illustrate examples that I can guide students to iI they are having
trouble thinking oI examples
O ody oI the Lesson (30 minutes)
o Introduce that we will be making, as a group a set oI Character Trading
Cards (like sports trading cards) about each character to help us
understand the qualities and traits that each character brings to the team
o xplain that today they will work as a group to create a trading card Ior
James
o and out the individual copies oI the Character Trading Card worksheet
o Give students time to work on the worksheets on their own. ncourage
students to complete the written portion oI the worksheet beIore starting
the drawing. II students Iinish early have them read their independent
reading book while we wait Ior everyone to Iinish.
o Discussion
Once everyone is Iinished, explain that we as a group need to come
up with group trading card Ior James that will be put on the poster
template already made
$tudents will share their responses and work together to generate
the responses to put on the group copy. I will record the ideas that
the students come up with on the poster version oI the Character
Trading Card
o Tell the students that they will be given one copy oI the Character Trading
Card Ior James and that they must work together to complete the
Character Trading Card. Following the completion oI their Character
Trading Card they will be presenting their completed worksheet
I will spend time going over my instructions and expectations Ior
the worksheet
O They must use evidence Irom the text to support their
answers
O They must work together to complete the worksheet
remind them oI the tips we talked about in class about how
to work with partners and work in groups
During this time I will try to intervene as little as possible to allow
Ior student discussion to occur naturally. owever, iI I do see that
a student is dominating or reluctant to talk I will intervene to try to
get them listening and talking to one another. This will be done
through:
O Asking a student their thoughts iI they are not sharing
O Asking the group what they think about each other`s ideas
iI one student appears to be dominating to make sure that
everyone`s voice gets heard
o Presentation
AIter the students complete their worksheet, they will present their
work to me
I will tell them that they have a Iew minutes to Iigure out how to
do the presentation and that my expectations are that
O veryone gets a chance to talk
O Clearly present their responses to the Character Trading
Card
AIter they have had a Iew minutes to prepare their presentation
they will present their work to me. During this time I will assess
their ability to use the text to support their answers. II they are not
providing this inIormation I will ask questions about why they
gave the answers they did to see iI they can come up with support
Irom the text
O Closure (5 minutes)
o xplain that their homework will be to complete Character Trading Cards
Ior each oI the characters and that they will be sharing them with the
group later in the week. Let students choose which characters they would
like to complete Character Trading Cards Ior. I will provide photocopies
to each child oI the James Character Trading Card to bring home to use as
a model Ior the Character Trading Cards they will be completing.
* The idea oI Iocusing on team and creating character cards was adapted Irom #oald
Dahl`s OIIicial Website http://www.roalddahl.com/.


Assessment oI the goals/objectives listed above-
O Assess students` ability to identiIy important character traits
O Assess students` ability to write, share and discuss their ideas
O Assess students` ability to work collaboratively to complete a group version oI the
Character Trading Card

Anticipating students` responses and your possible responses-
O Management issues- I do not anticipate any management issues because I have
worked with this group over the past month so they are aware oI my expectations
Ior them. owever, iI problems do arise I will make sure to remind students to
stay on task
O #esponse to content- $ince students will be working individually Ior a portion oI
this lesson I will be able to circle around and provide any additional support or
explanations.
o II students are unsure oI how to identiIy character traits
o I will remind them to reIer back to their character traits worksheets they
have completed during the reading oI 'James and the Giant Peach
o II students are unsure oI how to use evidence Irom the text:
eIore the students start I will provide an example oI how to use
evidence Irom the text to support their answer
II I notice that during the group work portion oI the lesson students
continue to struggle, I will guide them through using the text. I will
do this by helping them think oI examples Irom the text that helped
them come up with certain characteristics and traits that they
identiIy
o II students are having trouble working collaboratively on the Character
Trading Cards
I will remind the students oI the tips we continually discuss in class
about working with a partner such as being respectIul,
compromising, listening etc.
o II students have trouble doing the presentation
I will clearly outline my expectations Ior the presentation, which
are that they will present all their work clearly and loudly. In
addition, each member oI the group must participate in the
presentation.

Accommodations-
O For students who may Iind the material too challenging- $ince this is a small
group setting I will be able to go around and scaIIold and support any students
who are struggling with the task
O For students who Iinish early- II a child Iinishes early I will have them read one oI
their independent reading books.









































Name:
Date:


Character Trading Card

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Job in America:
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